Lobbying

Nevada: “Bill to Toughen Nevada Campaign Finance Rules Clears Senate” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New York: “Avella Proposes Lobbying Ban for Political Consultants” by Josefa Velasquez for Capital New York

Campaign Finance

“In Accepting Bitcoin, Rand Paul Raises Money and Questions” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

Ethics

New Mexico: “Equity Firm to Pay $3 Million to SIC to Avert Legal Fight” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Texas: “Senate Votes to Let Home-County Prosecutors, Not Austin, Handle Elected-Official Ethics Cases” by Will Weissert (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Washington: “State Public Disclosure Commission Director Resigns” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission Grapples with Trinkets Ban” by Eric Eyre for Charleston Gazette

Elections

“The G.O.P. Presidential Field Looks Chaotic. It’s Not.” by Nate Cohn for New York Times

Lobbying

“K St. Firms on Edge about Hacking Threat” by Elise Viebeck for The Hill

“Lobbyist Spending Is Concentrated at the Top” by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat

“CSKT Accused of Unethical Lobbying” by Tristan Scott for Flathead Beacon

“Governor Signs Measure on Lobbyist Records” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Campaign Finance

“California Teachers Unions Face New Legal Challenge over Dues” by Emma Brown for Washington Post

“Legislative Committees Approve Bills to Close Campaign Finance Loopholes” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

Ethics

“Raucous Akron City Council Meeting Rallies behind Councilman Bob Hoch” by John Harper (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Kate Brown’s Ethics Reforms Begin March through Oregon Legislature” by Dennis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

“Activists Push to Restore Oversight of Legislators” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Elections

“Chicago Waiting to See if Runoff Truly Has Humbled Rahm Emanuel” by Monica Davey for New York Times

Lobbying

“Comcast Recruits Its Beneficiaries to Lobby for Time Warner Deal” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Florida: “Senate Push to Expand Lobbyist Registration to Special Districts like Broward Health” by Dan Christensen for FloridaBulldog.org

Florida: “Citizen Lobbyists Endure Bureaucracy at Florida’s Capitol as They Promote Their Causes” by Steve Bousquet (Tampa Bay Times) for Miami Herald

Oklahoma: “Stillwater Councilors Say Energy Lobbyists Gave Ultimatum on Drilling-Ordinance Vote” by Ziva Branstetter for Tulsa World

Virginia: “Norment Won’t Discuss Lobbyist Relationship” by Travis Fain for The Daily Press

Campaign Finance

“The Secret Lives of Hillary and Bill in the White House” by Kate Anderson-Brower for Politico

“This Conservative Group is Tired of Being Accused of Climate Denial – and Is Fighting Back” by Tom Hamburger, Joby Warrick, and Chris Mooney for Washington Post

Arizona: “Arizona Clean Elections Law Lives On” by The Associated Press for Arizona Republic

California: “California Lawmakers’ Campaign Debt Piled High in 2014” by Jim Miller for Sacramento Bee

California: “Former South Bay Supervisor George Shirakawa Avoids Jail Time” by Henry Lee for San Francisco Chronicle

New York: “Ethics Laws Take Aim at Club Dues” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union

Elections

“Rand Paul Says ‘I Am Running for President’” by Jeremy Peters and Alan Rappeport for New York Times

Lobbying

“Trucking and Rail Industries Turn State Troopers into Unwitting Lobbyists” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Florida: “In Sunshine State, Big Energy Blocks Solar Power” by Eric Barton for Florida Center for Investigative Reporting

Missouri: “Missouri House Passes Lobbyist Gift Cap, Cooling Off Period” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New York “Cuomo Expands Lobbying Oversight to Localities” by Jimmy Vielkind for Capital New York

Tennessee: “Ethics Body Undecided on NRA Giving Lawmakers Free Tickets” by Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

Texas: “Questions about Aide to Texas Ag Commissioner Miller” by Eric Dexheimer (Austin American-Statesman) for Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Finance Complaints Filed Against 4 Presidential Hopefuls” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

“Menendez Indictment Marks First Big Corruption Case Involving a Super PAC” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Maine: “Lawmakers Consider Clean Election Changes after PAC Drama” by Scott Thistle (The Sun Journal) for Bangor Daily News

Vermont: “Court Hands RGA $40,000 in Fines for 2010 Campaign Finance Violations” by Morgan True for VTDigger.org

Ethics

“Tribe’s Infighting Offers Glimpse into Redskins Foundation’s Tactics” by John Woodrow Cox for Washington Post

“Watchdog for Federal Secrecy Has Yet to Bite” by Julian Hattem and Megan Wilson for The Hill

Arkansas: “Panel Backs Window for Gift Return” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online

Elections

“The Mobile Election: How smartphones will change the 2016 presidential race” by Dylan Byers for Politico

Lobbying

“Lobbyists-Turned-Staffers Disclose Salaries, Clients” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Massachusetts: “State Data: Top 7 Massachusetts lobbying firms earned over $3 million each during 2013-2014 session” by Andy Metzger (State House News Service) for MassLive.com

Utah: “Mormon Church Lobbying in Utah’s Capitol – Hardball or Light Touch?” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune

Campaign Finance

“The Political Kingmaker Nobody Knows” by Ben Wieder for Center for Public Integrity

Arkansas: “Bill Mandating Financial Filings Digitally Crashes” by Claudia Lauer for Arkansas Online

North Dakota: “Dems Want Review of Foreign Campaign Contribution Law: Lawmaker reported $2,000 from Canadian” by John Hageman for Dickinson Press

Texas: “Ethics Bills Draw Ire of Conservative Activists’ Lawyers” by Patrick Svitek for Texas Tribune

Ethics

Connecticut: “Lawmakers to Consider Preventing Convicted Politicians from Running Again” by Jordan Fenster for CTNewsJunkie.com

Virginia: “McAuliffe Vows to Amend Ethics Bills to Close Loopholes” by Laura Vozzella and Tom Jackman for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Sen. Harry Reid’s Retirement Poses Challenge for Democratic Unity” by Lisa Mascaro, Michael Memoli, and Mark Barabak for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“How to Decide When to Announce You’re Running for President” by Rebecca Kaplan and Jake Miller for CBS News

“Hillary Turns Down Invite to Secretive Donor Meeting” by Kenneth Vogel and Tarini Parti for Politico

“‘Dark Money’ Bill Fails in Voice Vote” by Lisa Hammersly and Claudia Lauer for Arkansas Online

Connecticut: “Five-Month Prison Sentence for Lisa Wilson-Foley” by Dave Collins (Associated Press) for CBS Connecticut

Virginia: “Deep Feud Splitting Virginia’s GOP Evident in Party’s Fundraising Woes” by Jenna Portnoy and Paul Schwartzman for Washington Post

Wisconsin”Wisconsin Lawmakers Hear Advice for Changing Complex Campaign Spending, Fundraising Law” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Wisconsin: “Secret $1.5 Million Donation from Wisconsin Billionaire Uncovered in Scott Walker Dark-Money Probe” by Michael Isikoff for Yahoo! Politics

Ethics

Indiana: “Another Loophole for Ex-INDOT Official?” by Ryan Sabalow and Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

New Jersey: “Chris Christie Gets Corvette for NJ Radio News Director Who Interviews Him” by Christopher Zara and David Sirota for International Business Times

New York: “Cuomo Focuses on Ethics Reform, Not on Funding” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Washington: “Washington Auditor Says He’s Cooperating with Investigation” by Rachel La Corte (Associated Press) for Raleigh News & Observer

Elections

Wisconsin: “U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Take Up Challenge to Wisconsin Voter ID Law” by Jason Stein and Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Lobbying

“Obama Promised to Curb the Influence of Lobbyists. Has He Succeeded?” by Juliet Eilperin for Washington Post

“McConnell Urges States to Help Thwart Obama’s ‘War on Coal’” by Coral Davenport for New York Times

Vermont: “Senate Passes New Lobbyist Disclosure Rules” by Paul Heintz for Seven Days

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Senate Panel OKs Higher Campaign-Donation Limits” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Massachusetts: “State Agency: Hampden County Sheriff’s campaign committee lost money in mutual fund” by Gintautas Dumcius (State House News Service) for MassLive.com

New Mexico: “‘Dark Money’ Bill Dies” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth

Rhode Island: “R.I. Board of Elections Requests another Staff Member to Audit Campaign Accounts” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal

Ethics

“Resigning Congressman Aaron Schock Faces Federal Investigation” by The Associated Press for New Orleans Times-Picayune

“Sen. Robert Menendez Case Tests Justice Department’s Anti-Corruption Unit” by Richard Serrano and Timothy Phelps for Los Angeles Times

California: “Inside the Mayor’s Nonprofit that’s Not Really the Mayor’s Nonprofit” by Liam Dillon for Voice of San Diego

Washington: “Seattle City Light’s Ethics Fight with Union Heats up as Whistleblower Left Cold” by Levi Pulkkinen for Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Elections

“Ted Cruz Hopes Early Campaign Entry Will Focus Voters’ Attention” by Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Procurement

Texas: “Contracting Reform Bill Sails Out of Senate Committee” by Edgar Walters for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

Hawaii: “Gov. Ige Withdraws Controversial Nomination of Carleton Ching to Head DLNR” by Jim Mendoza for Hawaii News Now

New Mexico: “Bill Banning Ex-Legislators from Becoming Lobbyists for 2 Years Killed in Senate” by Milan Simonich (Santa Fe New Mexican) for Farmington Daily-Times

Campaign Finance

Minnesota: “House Panel Defeats Bill Aimed at Requiring More Disclosure of Campaign Spending Late in Races” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

North Dakota: “Laffen Defends $1,945 Canadian Campaign Contribution” by John Hageman for Grand Forks Herald

Ethics

“FDA Proposes to Let Drug Companies Undermine Official Safety Warnings” by Peter Whoriskey for Washington Post

“A Sunshine Week Surprise: White House exempts executive office from records requests” by Josh Hicks for Washington Post

“Are Tech-Savvy Staffers One Tweet from Unemployment?” by Niall Stanage for The Hill

“Aaron Schock Case Illustrates Loose Rules on Travel” by Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman for Politico

New York: “TV Celeb Sandra Lee Pulled into NY Ethics Debate; GOP Wants Financial Info on Gov’s Girlfriend” by David Klepper (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Maryland: “City Pension Officials Spend Nearly $100,000 on Trips” by Luke Broadwater and Yvonne Wegner for Baltimore Sun

Pennsylvania: “Ethics Board to Nutter (and Inspector General): Get off our turf” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

Virginia: “What Maureen McDonnell Would Have Said, If the Governor Had His Own Trial” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

Procurement

Oregon: “Audit: Conflicts existed in prison industries contracts” by Hannah Hoffman for Salem Statesman Journal

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Freshman Lawmaker Determined to ‘Pay My Own Way’ at the Roundhouse” by Matt Grubs for KRQE

Vermont: “Senate Grumbles about Lobbyist Disclosure Bill” by Terri Hallenbeck for Seven Days

Washington: “Zombie Lobby Descends on Capitol to Rally for Expanding Film and TV Tax Incentive Program” by Rachel LaCorte (Associated Press) for The Daily Journal

Campaign Finance

“State Legislatures Taking Aim at Dark Money, Disclosure” by Peter Olsen-Phillips for Sunlight Foundation

“Meet the Man Taking Aim at Campaign Finance Regulations” by Cameron Joseph for The Hill

Montana: “‘Dark Money’ Bill Heard by House Panel” by Charles Johnson for Montana Standard

Ethics

Connecticut: “Rowland Sentenced to 30 Months, a Decade after Last Imprisonment” by Kristin Hussey and Marc Santora for New York Times

New York: “Income Disclosure, Pension Forfeiture and Attendance Verification All Part of 2-Way Ethics Deal” in Legislative Gazette

Elections

Ohio: “Federal Judge: Ohio’s new ballot access limits for 3rd parties are constitutional” by Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Lobbying

Connecticut: “State Lobbyists, Politicians Caught In Probe of Herbalife Billion Dollar Stock Gamble” by Edmund Mahony (Hartford Courant) for CTNow.com

New Mexico: “House Democrat Questions Lobbyist Bill Delay, Seeks Probe” by Steve Terrell (Santa Fe New Mexican) for Taos News

North Carolina: “Sex, Romance Would Be a Conflict of Interest under NC General Assembly Proposal” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer

Texas: “Analysis: When a disclosure is no disclosure at all” by Ross Ramsey for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

New Jersey: “Springsteen Shows and Island Trips, How N.J. Pols Raise Millions” by Carla Astudillo (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

Ethics

“Rep. Aaron Schock to Resign amid Spending Scandal” by Mike DeBonis, Robert Costa, and Paul Kane for Washington Post

“No, You Can’t See Congress’s Emails” by Rachel Roubein for National Journal

California: “Sen. Mendoza Under-Reported Money from Home Sale, Ethics Agency Finds” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

New York: “Schneiderman Issuing Ethics Plan Aimed at New York Legislators” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Tennessee: “House Committees Debate Bills in Secret ‘Pre-Meetings’” by Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

Lobbying

“The ‘Moneyball’ Effect on K Street: The influence game gets scientific” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

California: “Big Money Arrived Too Late for L.A. Election Debate” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Connecticut: “Former Connecticut State Sen. Newton Gets 6 Months in Prison on 2nd Criminal Conviction” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Ethics

“Ex-Energy Official’s $1.7 Million Gig Draws Fire” by Darius Dixon for Politico

“U.S. Attorney Leading Inquiry of Ex-D.C. Mayor Gray to Step Down” by Spencer Hsu, Keith Alexander, and Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

“Marco Rubio’s House of Horrors” by Marc Caputo for Politico

New Mexico: “Longtime New Mexico Sen. Phil Griego Resigns Amid Questions Surrounding Santa Fe Property Deal” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Pennsylvania: “Wolf Proposes Slight Funding Increase for Pennsylvania Ethics Commission” by Andrew Staub (PA Independent) for Watchdog.org

Texas: “In Dallas, Most Ethics Complaints Go Nowhere” by Elizabeth Findell for Dallas Morning News

Elections

“Evangelicals Aim to Mobilize an Army for Republicans in 2016” by Jason Horowitz for New York Times

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Stripped-Down Lobbying Disclosure Goes to Senate” by Gwyneth Doland for New Mexico In Depth

Washington: “Lawmakers Kill Proposed Lobbyist ‘Cooling Off’ Period for State Officials” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

Arkansas: “Campaign E-Filing Bill Falls Short in 1st Vote” by Lisa Hammersly and Claudia Lauer for Arkansas Online

Arkansas: “Paul Bookout, Former Arkansas State Senator from Jonesboro, Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charge” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for Daily Journal

New Mexico: “Senate Panel Passes Bill to End Campaign Donation Limits” by Steve Terrell (Santa Fe New Mexican) for Las Cruces Sun-News

Ethics

“Drugmakers Turn Heat on Insurers by Backing Copay Limits” by Alex Wayne for Bloomberg News

“Big Costs to See Public Documents Hider Access” by Michael Felberbaum (Associated Press) for USA Today

“Lawmaker Facing Spending Probe Benefited from Donor Projects” by Jeff Horwitz and Stephen Braun (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer

“Jeb Bush’s Emails Detail Communications with Top Donors” by Ronnie Green and Steve Peoples (Associated Press) for Raleigh News & Observer

“Committee Says No to Ethics Commission” by Nick Smith for Bismarck Tribune

Elections

“Absence of 2016 Competition for Clinton Raises Stakes for Democrats” by Dan Balz for Washington Post

Lobbying

New York: “Emails Reveal Lobbyist Had Undisclosed Role in Cuomo Financial Crisis Investigation” by Justin Elliot for ProPublica

Campaign Finance

“Likely 2016 Presidential Candidates Put Money to Work Through Their PACs” by Kurtis Lee for Los Angeles Times

West Virginia: “House Committee Removes Financial Disclosure from Campaign Bill” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Ethics

“Clinton: It ‘might have been smarter’ to use a State Dept. e-mail account” by Anne Gearan and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

Kentucky: “Anthony Wilhoit to Retire as Head of the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission” by Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader

Oregon: “Ex-Governor Scandal Prompts Ore. Ethics Overhaul Effort” by Tracy Loew (Salem Statesman Journal) for USA Today

Rhode Island: “Rhode Island Ethics Commission Endorses Bill on Expanding Jurisdiction over Lawmakers” by Jennifer McDermott (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

South Carolina: “S.C. Senate Panel Revives Ethics Reform bill, but for How Long is Uncertain” by Jamie Self for The State

Legislative Issues

“Cotton Storms the Senate” by Burgess Everett for Politico

Procurement

Texas: “Senate Leaders Want to Tighten Ethics Laws on State Contracts” by Robert Garrett for Dallas Morning News

Lobbying

“Inside the Powerful Lobby Fighting for Your Right to Eat Pizza” by Andrew Martin for Bloomberg News

“Why Congress Relies on Lobbyists Instead of Thinking for Itself” by Lee Drutman and Steven Teles for The Atlantic

Campaign Finance

California: “State Panel Considers Raising Thresholds for Campaign Reporting” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Kentucky: “In An Election Year, Kentucky Senate Votes to Double Campaign Contribution Limits” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for The Daily Journal

Montana: “House Sends Campaign Finance Bill to Panel Seen as More Favorable” by Charles Johnson for Helena Independent Record

Ethics

New York: “Mayor de Blasio Is Quietly Soliciting Donations for Future Policy Battles” by Michael Grynbaum for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “3 More Philly Pols Charged in Revived Sting Probe” by Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Virginia: “McDonnell Appeal Gains High-Profile Supporters” by Matt Zapotosky and Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Lindsey Graham One of Several in Senate Luddite Caucus” by Lauren French for Politico